THE Barbican Centre saga has baffled customers, wrought havoc on staff and angered neighbouring residents. Now it looks set to claim its biggest victim yet - one of the most important dates in York's calendar.

The Festival of Remembrance has been successfully staged at the Barbican for 15 years. The occasion allows the city, led by the civic party, to come together and salute those who fought for our freedom. It also raises many thousands of pounds for war veterans.

Now City of York Council has advised organiser Ted Griffiths, of the Royal British Legion, he should start looking for a new venue.

A furious Mr Griffiths lambasted the council today. Unhappily, this shambles is all too typical of the way the Barbican redevelopment has been handled.

Mr Griffiths had originally been told to find the festival a temporary home because the Barbican was closing at the end of May.

Then, a reprieve. The council confessed it could not stick to the original rebuild timetable and decided the Barbican - minus the pools and concert auditorium - could stay open until the autumn. That would allow the UK Snooker Championships to be held there from November 12-29.

Now Mr Griffiths has been told a date is yet to be fixed for the snooker. As a result, the council cannot guarantee a slot for the Festival of Remembrance on November 7.

What shameful priorities this reveals. Of course the snooker is good for York, but it should not be considered more important than our annual tribute to the fallen.

The festival deserves to be treated with greater respect, especially in this year, the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Councillors should instruct the sluggish snooker authorities that the festival weekend is always unavailable.

Updated: 10:11 Tuesday, June 01, 2004